MAYVILLE – The village of Mayville has received some funds from a manufacturer for having “forever chemicals” in its water, although the money isn’t coming close to what has been spent and will be spent in the future.

In 2024, 3M and the courts agreed to a $10.3 billion settlement over a 13-year period for public water suppliers that detected PFAS.

In December 2020, perfluorononanoic acid was discovered in Mayville’s three wells. Over a three-week period, the village got a new well up and running and eventually had to create a Granular Activated Carbon filter system for one of the wells.

So far, Mayville has received around $190,000 from the settlement funds. Treasurer Jennifer Obert said this amount totals 70%. The remaining 30% could be paid out over the next 10 years, although there may be an option for an early payment, but no decisions have been made on that.

The money is being placed in a newly established GAC Equipment and Reserve Fund.

The village is also looking to build another GAC building, which Obert said is expected to cost $2 million, which won’t come close to the settlement funds they’re receiving.

Because of this, Obert said the settlement funds will likely be used to replace the GAC filters in the future.

The village of Mayville supplies 1,856 water customers, some of which are small businesses, with water from wells that tested positive of PFOS and PFOA. The village filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging the companies that manufacture the foam knew since the 1970s the chemicals would not break down and that the chemicals were discovered in the blood of employees. That lawsuit was later moved to federal court. In 2000, 3M began to phase out its production of products that contained PFOS and PFOA in response to pressure from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. However, the suit alleges the company failed to warn those using the product about the risk.

3M’s settlement with U.S. public water suppliers in hundreds of similar lawsuits was announced in April 2024.

The now-finalized agreement will support public water suppliers that detect PFAS at any level or may do so in the future and will benefit U.S.-based public water suppliers that provide drinking water to Americans across the country. The agreement received overwhelming support and participation from public water suppliers, according to 3M, while the federal district court resolved the small number of objections that were raised in favor of the settlement. 3M recorded an accrual of $10.3 billion for this matter, which reflects the pre-tax present value of the expected payments over 13 years under the agreement. Payments under the agreement were scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2024, provided there are no pending appeals of the final approval order. 3M also continues to actively engage in insurance recovery activities.

“This is yet another important step forward for 3M as we continue to deliver on our priorities. The final approval of this settlement and continued progress toward exiting all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 will further our efforts to reduce risk and uncertainty as we move forward,” said 3M chairman and CEO Mike Roman in 2024.

In other business:

– A public hearing was scheduled for Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Carlson Community Center to solicit comments from the public regarding the final draft of the Town of Chautauqua/Village of Mayville Joint Comprehensive Plan. The town of Chautauqua is having its own hearing that night at 7:15 p.m. at the Chautauqua Municipal Building.

– Sun Ray Eagle Harrington was appointed to the Mayville Planning Board. He replaces Mark Raynor who resigned.

– A resolution was approved for the village clerk to advertise for Request for Proposals for Recreational Dock Facilities.

– Inspire Good of WNY was approved to hold a Winter Festival Feb. 13-15, 2026 within Lakeside Park including the construction of an ice castle, conditions permitting. This is the same organization that sponsored last year’s Winter Festival after the Chamber of Commerce backed out.